Harley Schlanger and My-Hoa Steger discuss the destructive role of Richard Wagner in his stated commitment to destroy all forms of Classical beauty, by reducing the philosophy of art to conform to his degraded conception of humanity as bestial. As a contemporary to Robert and Clara Schumann, Harley and My-Hoa do not miss the significance of the Schumann's role in challenging Wagner and his school, and propose that were it not for their determination, the classics of Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart may have very well been otherwise destroyed. The discussion also includes a precise introduction to Bach's revolution in counterpoint.